Whoosh! Here comes the Whoosh! Here comes the tornado!tornado!

By Stacey MachiaBy Stacey Machia

IntroductionIntroduction

You’re off to visit Grandma in Kansas, when you You’re off to visit Grandma in Kansas, when you here that it is tornado season! The one that is here that it is tornado season! The one that is coming is rates “F5.” You want to suggest to coming is rates “F5.” You want to suggest to Grandma that maybe she should come visit Grandma that maybe she should come visit you instead, away from the tornados, but she’s you instead, away from the tornados, but she’s old and it’s hard for her to travel. First you old and it’s hard for her to travel. First you must decide if there really is a threat to must decide if there really is a threat to Grandma’s house.Grandma’s house.

How dangerous are tornados, really?How dangerous are tornados, really?

TaskTask

In this web quest, you will:In this web quest, you will: Find out how fast tornados spinFind out how fast tornados spin Find out how fast tornados travelFind out how fast tornados travel Find out the strength of tornadosFind out the strength of tornados Find out how tornados are ratedFind out how tornados are rated Determine if a tornado is coming and is Determine if a tornado is coming and is

classified as an “F-5”, should Grandma leave classified as an “F-5”, should Grandma leave her house or sit it out?her house or sit it out?

Write a persuasive essay to prove your pointWrite a persuasive essay to prove your point

ProcessProcess

1. Research tornados visiting the website 1. Research tornados visiting the website provided.provided.

http://http://www.spc.noaa.gov/faq/tornadowww.spc.noaa.gov/faq/tornado//2. On a sheet of paper, answer the following 2. On a sheet of paper, answer the following

questions:questions:a) How fast do tornados spin?a) How fast do tornados spin?b) How fast do tornados travel?b) How fast do tornados travel?c) How are tornados rated? Is it on a c) How are tornados rated? Is it on a scale? What kind of scale? scale? What kind of scale?

Has itHas it been updated?been updated?

Process Process continuedcontinued

3. Write a persuasive essay on whether 3. Write a persuasive essay on whether you think Grandma should leave her you think Grandma should leave her house or wait it out. Remember, the house or wait it out. Remember, the tornado that is coming is an “F5.” Use tornado that is coming is an “F5.” Use the facts that you have learned today the facts that you have learned today to prove your points. The paper to prove your points. The paper should be at least 5 paragraphs should be at least 5 paragraphs (Introduction, three body paragraphs, (Introduction, three body paragraphs, and a closing)and a closing)

ResourcesResources

Use http://www.spc.noaa.gov/faq/tornado/Use http://www.spc.noaa.gov/faq/tornado/But if you need more help, use these sites.But if you need more help, use these sites. http://www.tornadoproject.com/http://www.tornadoproject.com/ http://science.howstuffworks.com/nature/http://science.howstuffworks.com/nature/

climate-weather/storms/tornado.htmclimate-weather/storms/tornado.htm http://www.fema.gov/hazard/tornado/http://www.fema.gov/hazard/tornado/

index.shtmindex.shtm

Evaluation Evaluation To receive a…To receive a… You must…You must…

55 --answer all 3 questions asked (all parts of answer all 3 questions asked (all parts of each question)each question)

-give 5 reasons as to why Grandma -give 5 reasons as to why Grandma should/should not leaveshould/should not leave

-write in a persuasive style-write in a persuasive style

-write at least 5 paragraphs-write at least 5 paragraphs

44 --answer all 3 questions (most parts of each answer all 3 questions (most parts of each question)question)

-give 4 reasons as to why Grandma -give 4 reasons as to why Grandma should/should not leaveshould/should not leave

-writes in a persuasive style-writes in a persuasive style

-write at least 5 paragraphs-write at least 5 paragraphs

33 -answer all three questions partly-answer all three questions partly

-give 3 reasons as to why Grandma -give 3 reasons as to why Grandma should/should not leaveshould/should not leave

-write in a persuasive style-write in a persuasive style

-write at least 4 paragraphs-write at least 4 paragraphs

Rubric continued on next slide…

EvaluationEvaluation continued continued

22 -answer less then three questions-answer less then three questions

-give 2 reasons as to why Grandma -give 2 reasons as to why Grandma should/should not leaveshould/should not leave

-write a paper, but not necessarily in a -write a paper, but not necessarily in a persuasive stylepersuasive style

-write at least 3 paragraphs-write at least 3 paragraphs

11 -answer less than 3 questions-answer less than 3 questions

-give 1 reason as to should/should not -give 1 reason as to should/should not leaveleave

-write a paper, but not in persuasive style-write a paper, but not in persuasive style

-write at least 3 paragraphs-write at least 3 paragraphs

00 -Do not hand anything in -Do not hand anything in -Do not answer questions-Do not answer questions

-Do not give any reasons as to why -Do not give any reasons as to why Grandmas should/should not stayGrandmas should/should not stay

-write less then 3 paragraphs-write less then 3 paragraphs

By the end of this web quest, you should be able to By the end of this web quest, you should be able to explain to Grandma what kind of tornado is explain to Grandma what kind of tornado is coming towards her (dangerous or not) and coming towards her (dangerous or not) and whether she should leave her house or not. You whether she should leave her house or not. You should now be able to tell your friends what you should now be able to tell your friends what you learned about tornados. You and your friends can learned about tornados. You and your friends can explore these cool websites to learn more!explore these cool websites to learn more!

http://www.tornadoproject.com/http://www.tornadoproject.com/ http://science.howstuffworks.com/nature/climate-http://science.howstuffworks.com/nature/climate-

weather/storms/tornado.htmweather/storms/tornado.htm http://http://www.fema.gov/hazard/tornado/index.shtmwww.fema.gov/hazard/tornado/index.shtm

Extra CreditExtra Credit

Using what you learned on the website Using what you learned on the website http://www.spc.noaa.gov/faq/tornado/http://www.spc.noaa.gov/faq/tornado/

write a paragraph to explain write a paragraph to explain

whether or not this picture iswhether or not this picture is

real. (Hint: Read the question real. (Hint: Read the question that asks that asks ““What happens whenWhat happens when

two tornadoes come togethertwo tornadoes come together?”?”))

Teacher PagesTeacher Pages

Lesson: Whoosh! Here comes the Lesson: Whoosh! Here comes the tornado!tornado!

A WebQuest for 4th Grade ScienceDesigned by Stacey MachiaStacey_machia@yahoo.com

This lesson was developed as part of the Internet This lesson was developed as part of the Internet and the Web class at SUNY Oswego.and the Web class at SUNY Oswego.

This lesson focuses on the basic facts about This lesson focuses on the basic facts about tornados and then has the students write an tornados and then has the students write an essay showcasing what they have learned. To essay showcasing what they have learned. To find information, the students will be looking at find information, the students will be looking at internet sites provided and answering questions.internet sites provided and answering questions.

Standards Addressed:Standards Addressed:As a result of this lesson, students will be able toAs a result of this lesson, students will be able to

-Recognize the relationships between the -Recognize the relationships between the fujita scale fujita scale and the damage the tornado will and the damage the tornado will causecause

-retell facts about tornados the student has -retell facts about tornados the student has learnedlearned

-use Creative problem-solving, -use Creative problem-solving, categorization, and categorization, and Comparison skillsComparison skills

Students will…Students will…1. Research tornados visiting the website provided.1. Research tornados visiting the website provided.

http://http://www.spc.noaa.gov/faq/tornadowww.spc.noaa.gov/faq/tornado//2. On a sheet of paper, answer the following questions:2. On a sheet of paper, answer the following questions:

a) How fast do tornados spin?a) How fast do tornados spin?b) How fast do tornados travel?b) How fast do tornados travel?c) How are tornados rated? Is it on a c) How are tornados rated? Is it on a scale? What kind of scale? Has scale? What kind of scale? Has

itit been updated?been updated?3. Write a persuasive essay on whether you think 3. Write a persuasive essay on whether you think

Grandma should leave her house or wait it out. Grandma should leave her house or wait it out. Remember, the tornado that is coming is an “F5.” Remember, the tornado that is coming is an “F5.” Use the facts that you have learned today to prove Use the facts that you have learned today to prove your points. The paper should be at least 5 your points. The paper should be at least 5 paragraphs (Introduction, three body paragraphs, paragraphs (Introduction, three body paragraphs, and a closing)and a closing)

Students will…Students will…

Work alone on this projectWork alone on this project Be given access to a computerBe given access to a computer

Teacher will…Teacher will… Accommodate studentsAccommodate students Answer questionsAnswer questions Help with technical computer issuesHelp with technical computer issues

Resources NeededResources Needed

Mini lesson on tornados so students Mini lesson on tornados so students have a small amount of backround have a small amount of backround knowledgeknowledge

Enough computers for each member Enough computers for each member of the classof the class

PaperPaper One teacher, if needed one aide to One teacher, if needed one aide to

help with student computer issueshelp with student computer issues

EvaluationEvaluationTo receive a…To receive a… You must…You must…

55 --answer all 3 questions asked (all parts of each question)answer all 3 questions asked (all parts of each question)

-give 5 reasons as to why Grandma should/should not leave-give 5 reasons as to why Grandma should/should not leave

-write in a persuasive style-write in a persuasive style

-write at least 5 paragraphs-write at least 5 paragraphs

44 --answer all 3 questions (most parts of each question)answer all 3 questions (most parts of each question)

-give 4 reasons as to why Grandma should/should not leave-give 4 reasons as to why Grandma should/should not leave

-writes in a persuasive style-writes in a persuasive style

-write at least 5 paragraphs-write at least 5 paragraphs

33 -answer all three questions partly-answer all three questions partly

-give 3 reasons as to why Grandma should/should not leave-give 3 reasons as to why Grandma should/should not leave

-write in a persuasive style-write in a persuasive style

-write at least 4 paragraphs-write at least 4 paragraphs

22 -answer less then three questions-answer less then three questions

-give 2 reasons as to why Grandma should/should not leave-give 2 reasons as to why Grandma should/should not leave

-write a paper, but not necessarily in a persuasive style-write a paper, but not necessarily in a persuasive style

-write at least 3 paragraphs-write at least 3 paragraphs

11 -answer less than 3 questions-answer less than 3 questions

-give 1 reason as to should/should not leave-give 1 reason as to should/should not leave

-write a paper, but not in persuasive style-write a paper, but not in persuasive style

-write at least 3 paragraphs-write at least 3 paragraphs

00 -Do not hand anything in -Do not hand anything in -Do not answer questions-Do not answer questions

-Do not give any reasons as to why Grandmas should/should not -Do not give any reasons as to why Grandmas should/should not staystay

-write less then 3 paragraphs-write less then 3 paragraphs

ConclusionConclusion

This lesson is important because it This lesson is important because it helps students to take their learning helps students to take their learning into their own hands. This is an into their own hands. This is an interactive way for students to learn interactive way for students to learn about an important science topic. about an important science topic. After teaching this lesson, you will be After teaching this lesson, you will be able to build further weather lessons able to build further weather lessons off of it.off of it.